Has anyone used the TTU advanced training manual? I found it in Transition Times as a link. Sounds pretty good. Costs $39.95. Wondering if there is any break-through kind of info in it before I buy it. Have done a total of 8 IMs in my “career” and have plateaued at 11:49 to 12:25 the last 4, the last two at 12:07.
Just closed out my season this past Saturday at the Kokopelli Half. Ten months of continuous structured training and racing (4 olys, 1 IM and 1 Half). A good year but I am in need of transition into the “off-season.”
Save yourself the money and buy Gale Bernhardt’s “Training Plans for Multisport Althletes” instead. The TTU plan is simplistic to the point of uselessness. Any random Ironman training article in any of the triathlon publications will give you as much as the TTU “plan.” Bernhardt’s plans are far from perfect (not enough Bricks, too much LSD-ish mileage, too little Threshold work) but still a good solid base to build your own plan on.
Frank
I’m with Frank on this one. With your kind of base, the TTU manual really wouldn’t do you much good. The consistency that you apply in your training, regardless of the manual, is what’s going to help you get over your so-called “plateau”.
I found an excellent general 12 week training plan in the August edition of Inside Triathlon by Lance Watson. It’s lactate-threshold training zone-based, and is sound in its application of zones. As Frank says, the Gail Bernhardt plans in her book are also great. I especially like how both Lance and Gail flip-flop the long bike/long run weekends so that you’re doing the run before the bike on some weekends and the bike before the run on others.
there are no “secrets.” and for someone like you, i think gale’s plans may not be what you need (they tend to be more basic). i would spend that money on a phone call with someone like coach gordo who in one hour could give you the direction you’d need to break out of the platueau (sp?).
Thanks everyone for the info. The consensus is quite clear; TTU is out.
Will check out the sources you all mentioned.
The past few years have followed the same routine. IM base training for three months, January through March, then build training geared towards Olympic racing, April through early June, then IM build for the Full Vineman.
I think the key may be better converting some of the Oly “speed” into the IM build. Breakthrough bricks sound like what I need to research.
Training theory is not as simple as any book makes it out. I personaly coach 3 runners (female) in the 33 - 35 min 10K range. One ran 1:17:04 sunday for the 1/2 marathon at a medium effort. I know for a fact that it is much harder to coach myself for triathlons.
This past season I got a 1/2 IM PR that is solid in my agegroup but far from elite. I did as many bricks this year as I did races + about 2 so everyone has their own ideas on what works. I’m not saying this is optimal for everyone or even me but their is more than one way to skin a cat.
I am also doing IM wisconsin next year. My prep at this point in time is forget about it. There is no way that you can or should train for a full year for one IM. Even the best seem to do 2 peaks in one season. I would say that most people should get a coach for a while to get and idea how to train an entire year for triathlon. Or go up to some people you see a lot that are very successful at the distance you want to do and ask them about training. I will talk to anyone after a race about training no matter what their ability level. Not everyone is nice like that but if you get attitude from someone forget about it and find someone else. My best advice is find an April/May race and go for it. Take a break and then think Vineman.
I know this is not a direct answer to your book question. $40 seems steep but I personaly have at least 30 books and many journal an magazine articals in my library on endurance athletics and training theories. There is no correct answer for everyone. That is why coaching is a job.
Now spelling is another thing but I’m to lazy to check this for that. Good luck.